Pruitt said a constant cycle of schemes prey on trusting Oklahomans. He said the problem is widespread. Criminals call claiming to represent reputable credit card companies. They often have enough information to be convincing.

“This particular scam is something we're concerned about because people are calling, saying let us have your banking information, there's a fraud alert, there's particular activity on your card that we think you need to be aware of, but give us your banking information and we'll do it for you,” Pruitt said.

That is how the scammers acquire the card information.

“A credit card company would never do that,” Pruitt said.

The scheme has caught the attention of local law enforcement officials, who are trying to get the word out. The Kingfisher Police Department posted an alert on its Facebook page, eliciting a number of responses from people who claimed to be affected.

Pruitt said that being aware of such schemes is the best way to avoid falling victim.

“For you to give banking information to a telephone solicitor saying there's been fraud activity on your account, you should never do [that],” he said. “That should just be a red flag to folks not to respond to that, if it's a number that you don't recognize not to respond to it.”

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